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EU forum struggles on climate vow EU forum struggles on climate vow
(20 minutes later)
EU leaders have so far failed to agree how much aid the bloc will give to developing nations to tackle the effects of global warming.EU leaders have so far failed to agree how much aid the bloc will give to developing nations to tackle the effects of global warming.
On the first day of a two-day summit in Brussels EU leaders had wanted to agree a joint offer of around 6bn euros ($9bn; £5.5bn) over three years.On the first day of a two-day summit in Brussels EU leaders had wanted to agree a joint offer of around 6bn euros ($9bn; £5.5bn) over three years.
But analysts say wealthier states are struggling to convince poorer Eastern European countries to contribute.But analysts say wealthier states are struggling to convince poorer Eastern European countries to contribute.
Officials said that consultations would continue overnight.Officials said that consultations would continue overnight.
The BBC's Jonny Dymond in Brussels says there will be some serious arm twisting through the small hours as the EU tries to come up with the pledges.
"We will have a better figure tomorrow than we had tonight," Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt told a news conference."We will have a better figure tomorrow than we had tonight," Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt told a news conference.
Financial matters will also be discussed at the twice-yearly summit. "We have [EU] member states with [International Monetary Fund] programmes, with huge deficits. This is on a voluntary basis, and already more than half of the states have provided figures."
Earlier on Thursday, momentum was building for a tax on bankers' bonuses. 'Swift decisions'
The leaders of France and Germany swung behind the idea after the UK announced a one-off supertax on bonuses in a pre-Budget report.
Writing in Thursday's Wall Street Journal, UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown and French President Nicolas Sarkozy said a one-off tax should be "considered a priority".
'Fast start'
The European Council meeting is the first since the Lisbon Treaty came into effect and Belgium's Herman van Rompuy was elected as its first president.
The money being sought at the Brussels summit is for a "fast start" contribution to help the world's poorest nations tackle rising sea levels, deforestation, water shortages and other consequences of climate change between 2010 and 2012.The money being sought at the Brussels summit is for a "fast start" contribution to help the world's poorest nations tackle rising sea levels, deforestation, water shortages and other consequences of climate change between 2010 and 2012.
I call upon you - put a figure on the table. We demanded this in the European Parliament resolution in November Jerzy Buzek, President of the European Parliament Climate pressures cloud EU summit EU climate package explained France gets key Commission jobI call upon you - put a figure on the table. We demanded this in the European Parliament resolution in November Jerzy Buzek, President of the European Parliament Climate pressures cloud EU summit EU climate package explained France gets key Commission job
Several wealthy EU states have announced significant contributions, but it is not yet clear what Germany, France and Eastern European nations are ready to put into the pot, the BBC's Oana Lungescu, in Brussels, says. Several wealthy EU states have announced significant contributions, but it is not yet clear what Germany, France and Eastern European nations are ready to contribute.
The largest contributions came from Britain at 885m euros and Sweden - which currently holds the rotating EU presidency - at 765,000 euros. The Netherlands has also pledged a significant contribution.
As the summit got under way, pledges had been made for around 2bn euros.As the summit got under way, pledges had been made for around 2bn euros.
One EU diplomat told the AFP news agency that at the end of the first day, three quarters of the sought-after aid had been pledged by a dozen nations. The largest contributions came from Britain at 883m euros and Sweden - which currently holds the rotating EU presidency - at 765m euros. The Netherlands has pledged 300m euros and Denmark 160m.
President of the European Parliament Jerzy Buzek told EU leaders that "swift, binding, global decisions" were needed on climate targets. The figures are totals spread over three years - 2010-2012.
"We have called on the developed countries to reduce emissions by 25-40% by 2020, and expect developing countries to achieve cuts of between 15% and 30%," he said. President of the European Parliament Jerzy Buzek told EU leaders that "swift, binding, global decisions" were also needed on climate targets.
"We know approximately how much this will cost the [European] Union - no less than 30bn euros per year. It is important for this burden to be shared fairly among the member states. We should respect the principle of mutual solidarity." "I call upon you - put a figure on the table. We demanded this in the European Parliament resolution in November," he said.
He added: "This meeting is decisive. This meeting will determine the funding for the immediate aid required by developing countries from next year to 2012 - before the new agreement comes into force. As EU leaders arrived for the summit there was a moment of drama when Greenpeace activists breached the security cordon disguised as an official delegation.
"I call upon you - put a figure on the table. We demanded this in the European Parliament resolution in November." They held up banners reading "EU: Save Copenhagen" before they were moved aside by security guards.
Security scare Bankers' bonuses
As EU leaders arrived for the twice-yearly Brussels summit there was a moment of drama when environmental protesters breached the security cordon disguised as an official delegation. Financial matters will also be discussed at the twice-yearly summit.
Several Greenpeace activists pulled up in a silver minivan similar to those used by summit attendees. Earlier on Thursday, momentum was building for a tax on bankers' bonuses. The leaders of France and Germany swung behind the idea after the UK announced a one-off supertax on bonuses in a pre-Budget report.
They burst out with banners reading "EU: Save Copenhagen" before they were moved aside by security guards. The enormous level of Greece's debt will also be a concern.
They were urging EU nations to boost their commitments to achieve success at the conference in the Danish capital. Greek Deputy Finance Minister Philippos Sachinidis said it stood at 300bn euros - its highest level in modern history.
Other issues sure to concern EU leaders include Greece's enormous level of debt. EU Commission president Jose Manuel Barroso said on Thursday he was confident Greece would overcome its problems.
Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt said Greece's financial problems should be solved domestically. The European Council meeting is the first since the Lisbon Treaty came into effect and Belgium's Herman van Rompuy was elected as its first president.
Greek Deputy Finance Minister Philippos Sachinidis said earlier that his country's debt stood at 300bn euros - its highest level in modern history.